Ed Mili tightens his grip |

Wednesday 16th February 2011 | 14:59

Ed Mili tightens his grip

Is Ed Miliband doing a reverse Gordon? You know, going from Mr Bean to Stalin..?

He and Ed Balls have just sent this letter to all colleagues, warning them to clear every single policy announcement, statement, press release with the Leader's Office and Shadow Treasury teams.

The letter says ahead of the next election Labour has to show it's commitments on tax and spend are "clear, costed and affordable".

"To that end, whilst we will continue rightly to oppose many of the decisions of the current Conservative-led Government, given the reckless gamble they are taking with the future of our economy, we cannot and should not at this stage make firm commitments to reverse each of those decisions unless and until we can say how those commitments will be paid for."

It adds: "Issues for clearance will include:

*Any public statement by a frontbench spokesperson, whether in a speech or article or press statement

*Any contribution to Parliament, including Opposition Day debate motions

*It should also include public campaigns that you intend to endorse..

"It goes without saying that this applies not just to statement made by the relevant Shadow Cabinet member but to the entire Shadow team."

This is, of course, a throwback to the command-and-control imposed by Gordon Brown when Labour was in Opposition

Let's see if it holds.

Leave a comment...

mark

15:44 |
16 Feb 2011
Recommended
7

Seems more like Ed Balls tightening his grip to me

Matt

15:51 |
16 Feb 2011
Recommended
6

Ed has been grabbed by the Balls...

Stepney

17:07 |
16 Feb 2011
Recommended
2

It is often said the crew was able to get Mister Ed to move his mouth by applying peanut butter to his gums in order for him to try to remove it by moving his lips. However it was initially done by putting a piece of nylon thread in his mouth. But Ed actually learned to move his lips on cue when the trainer touched his hoof. In fact, he soon learned to do it when the actors stopped talking during a scene. Ed was very smart.

Jon Hudson

16:10 |
16 Feb 2011
Recommended
4

It actually goes back to when Mandelson was Head of Communications in Opposition and no Labour frontbencher could send out any press release without his agreement.

SimonJ

16:19 |
16 Feb 2011
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5

Hmm Shadow chancellor and leader of the opposition seeing each other as equals with chancellor wanting the lead role.......sound familiar :0) Ding ding, Blair/Brown act 2

R.McGeddon

16:39 |
16 Feb 2011
Recommended
4

Not another Labour duumvirate like the Blair/Brown fiscal fiasco ??

Trevors Den

16:40 |
16 Feb 2011
Recommended
3

Either rEd and Ed are going to be kept busy or no one will say anything.

NickB

16:37 |
17 Feb 2011
0

Would be interesting to have Balls' signature analysed. Looks kinda strange to me.

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